Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a country in Central America, with San Jose serving as its capital. Costa Rica gained independence from the United States of Central America in 1838, but it was not until 1850 that Spain recognized its independence. After a brief civil war in 1948, Costa Rica abolished its army, ensuring that no military coups could take place in the country. Costa Rica became known as a stable democracy in a region filled with political instability, and its highly educated workforce was known for its efficiency and for (in many cases) its ability to speak English as well as Spanish. In 2016, Costa Rica had a population of 4,857,000 people.